HB 61

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to high school graduation; amending s.
3	1003.428, F.S.; requiring that students be advised of the
4	availability of certain courses for purposes of high
5	school graduation; providing credit requirements for high
6	school graduation with a standard diploma beginning with
7	students entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year and
8	students entering grade 9 in the 2013-2014 school year;
9	deleting provisions relating to general requirements for
10	high school graduation to conform to changes made by the
11	act; creating s. 1003.4282, F.S.; providing for
12	accommodations for students with disabilities for purposes
13	of high school graduation; creating s. 1003.4287, F.S.;
14	authorizing the award of a standard high school diploma to
15	certain honorably discharged veterans; amending s.
16	1003.429, F.S.; requiring that students be advised of the
17	availability of certain courses for purposes of an
18	accelerated high school graduation option; amending s.
19	1003.43, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to general
20	requirements for high school graduation to conform to
21	changes made by the act; amending s. 1007.263, F.S.;
22	conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1008.22, F.S.;
23	requiring passing scores on the grade 10 FCAT to meet
24	grade-level proficiency; conforming cross-references;
25	amending s. 1009.531, F.S.; conforming provisions;
26	providing an effective date.
27
28	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30	Section 1.  Subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection
31	(2), and subsections (5) through (11) of section 1003.428,
32	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
33	1003.428  General requirements for high school graduation;
34	revised.--
35	(1)  Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to s.
36	1003.429, beginning with students entering their first year of
37	high school in the 2007-2008 school year, graduation requires
38	the successful completion of a minimum of 24 credits, an
39	International Baccalaureate curriculum, or an Advanced
40	International Certificate of Education curriculum. Students must
41	be advised of the Advanced Placement, International
42	Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate of Education,
43	career academy coursework that leads to national industry
44	certification, and dual enrollment courses available, as well as
45	the availability of course offerings through the Florida Virtual
46	School. Students must also be advised of eligibility
47	requirements for state scholarship programs and postsecondary
48	admissions.
49	(2)  The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
50	integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
51	Education and shall be distributed as follows:
52	(a)  Sixteen core curriculum credits:
53	1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
54	composition, reading for information, and literature.
55	2.  Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
56	Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
57	higher-level mathematics course. Beginning with students
58	entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year, one of the four
59	credits must be Algebra I or a series of courses equivalent to
60	Algebra I as approved by the State Board of Education, and one
61	credit must be geometry or a series of courses equivalent to
62	geometry as approved by the State Board of Education. Beginning
63	with students entering grade 9 in the 2013-2014 school year, one
64	of the four credits must be Algebra I or a series of courses
65	equivalent to Algebra I as approved by the State Board of
66	Education, one credit must be geometry or a series of courses
67	equivalent to geometry as approved by the State Board of
68	Education, and one credit must be Algebra II or a series of
69	courses equivalent to Algebra II as approved by the State Board
70	of Education. School districts are encouraged to set specific
71	goals to increase enrollments in, and successful completion of,
72	geometry and Algebra II.
73	3.  Three credits in science, two of which must have a
74	laboratory component. Beginning with students entering grade 9
75	in the 2011-2012 school year, one of the three credits must be
76	Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to Biology I as
77	approved by the State Board of Education, one credit must be a
78	physical science or a series of courses equivalent to a physical
79	science as approved by the State Board of Education, and one
80	credit must be a higher-level science course. At least two of
81	the science courses must have a laboratory component. Beginning
82	with students entering grade 9 in the 2013-2014 school year, one
83	of the three credits must be Biology I or a series of courses
84	equivalent to Biology I as approved by the State Board of
85	Education, one credit must be chemistry or physics or a series
86	of courses equivalent to chemistry or physics as approved by the
87	State Board of Education, and one credit must be a higher-level
88	science course. At least two of the science courses must have a
89	laboratory component.
90	4.  Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
91	in American history; one credit in world history; one-half
92	credit in economics; and one-half credit in American government.
93	5.  One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
94	debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
95	content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
96	imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
97	through the Course Code Directory.
98	6.  One credit in physical education to include integration
99	of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
100	junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
101	satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
102	student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
103	score of "C" or better. The competency test on personal fitness
104	must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
105	school board may not require that the one credit in physical
106	education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
107	semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class,
108	in a physical activity class that requires participation in
109	marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
110	dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
111	or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
112	used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
113	requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
114	education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
115	Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
116	component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
117	requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
118	in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
119	personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
120	physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
121	504 plan.
122	(5)  The State Board of Education, after a public hearing
123	and consideration, shall adopt rules based upon the
124	recommendations of the commissioner for the provision of test
125	accommodations and modifications of procedures as necessary for
126	students with disabilities which will demonstrate the student's
127	abilities rather than reflect the student's impaired sensory,
128	manual, speaking, or psychological process skills.
129	(6)  The public hearing and consideration required in
130	subsection (5) shall not be construed to amend or nullify the
131	requirements of security relating to the contents of
132	examinations or assessment instruments and related materials or
133	data as prescribed in s. 1008.23.
134	(5)(7)(a)  A student who meets all requirements prescribed
135	in subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) shall be awarded a
136	standard diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of
137	Education.
138	(b)  A student who completes the minimum number of credits
139	and other requirements prescribed by subsections (1), (2), and
140	(3), but who is unable to meet the standards of paragraph
141	(4)(b), paragraph (4)(c), or paragraph (4)(d), shall be awarded
142	a certificate of completion in a form prescribed by the State
143	Board of Education. However, any student who is otherwise
144	entitled to a certificate of completion may elect to remain in
145	the secondary school either as a full-time student or a part-
146	time student for up to 1 additional year and receive special
147	instruction designed to remedy his or her identified
148	deficiencies.
149	(8)(a)  Each district school board must provide instruction
150	to prepare students with disabilities to demonstrate proficiency
151	in the core content knowledge and skills necessary for
152	successful grade-to-grade progression and high school
153	graduation.
154	(b)  A student with a disability, as defined in s.
155	1007.02(2), for whom the individual education plan (IEP)
156	committee determines that the FCAT cannot accurately measure the
157	student's abilities taking into consideration all allowable
158	accommodations, shall have the FCAT requirement of paragraph
159	(4)(b) waived for the purpose of receiving a standard high
160	school diploma, if the student:
161	1.  Completes the minimum number of credits and other
162	requirements prescribed by subsections (1), (2), and (3).
163	2.  Does not meet the requirements of paragraph (4)(b)
164	after one opportunity in 10th grade and one opportunity in 11th
165	grade.
166	(9)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
167	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
168	high school between 1937 and 1946 and were scheduled to graduate
169	between 1941 and 1950 but were inducted into the United States
170	Armed Forces between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946,
171	prior to completing the necessary high school graduation
172	requirements. Upon the recommendation of the commissioner, the
173	State Board of Education may develop criteria and guidelines for
174	awarding such diplomas.
175	(10)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
176	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
177	high school between 1946 and 1950 and were scheduled to graduate
178	between 1950 and 1954, but were inducted into the United States
179	Armed Forces between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955, and
180	served during the Korean Conflict prior to completing the
181	necessary high school graduation requirements. Upon the
182	recommendation of the commissioner, the State Board of Education
183	may develop criteria and guidelines for awarding such diplomas.
184	(6)(11)  The State Board of Education may adopt rules
185	pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the
186	provisions of this section and may enforce the provisions of
187	this section pursuant to s. 1008.32.
188	Section 2.  Section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is created
189	to read:
190	1003.4282  Accommodations for students with disabilities;
191	graduation requirements.--For purposes of high school
192	graduation:
193	(1)  The State Board of Education, after a public hearing
194	and consideration, shall adopt rules based upon the
195	recommendations of the Commissioner of Education for the
196	provision of test accommodations as necessary for students with
197	disabilities which will demonstrate the student's abilities
198	rather than reflect the student's impaired sensory, manual,
199	speaking, or psychological process skills.
200	(2)  The public hearing and consideration required in
201	subsection (1) shall not be construed to amend or nullify the
202	requirements of security relating to the contents of
203	examinations or assessment instruments and related materials or
204	data as prescribed in s. 1008.23.
205	(3)(a)  Each district school board must provide instruction
206	to prepare students with disabilities to demonstrate proficiency
207	in the core content knowledge and skills necessary for
208	successful grade-to-grade progression and high school
209	graduation.
210	(b)  A student with a disability, as defined in s.
211	1007.02(2), for whom the individual education plan committee
212	determines that the FCAT cannot accurately measure the student's
213	abilities taking into consideration all allowable
214	accommodations, shall have the FCAT requirement of s.
215	1003.428(4)(b) or s. 1003.43(5)(a) waived for the purpose of
216	receiving a high school diploma, if the student:
217	1.  Completes the minimum number of credits and other
218	requirements prescribed in s. 1003.428(1)-(3) or s. 1003.43(1)
219	and (4).
220	2.  Does not meet the FCAT requirements of s.
221	1003.428(4)(b) or s. 1003.43(5)(a) after one opportunity in
222	grade 10 and one opportunity in grade 11.
223	Section 3.  Section 1003.4287, Florida Statutes, is created
224	to read:
225	1003.4287  Recognition of veterans; high school diploma.--
226	(1)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
227	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
228	high school between 1937 and 1946 and were scheduled to graduate
229	between 1941 and 1950 but were inducted into the United States
230	Armed Forces between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946,
231	prior to completing the necessary high school graduation
232	requirements. Upon the recommendation of the commissioner, the
233	State Board of Education may develop criteria and guidelines for
234	awarding such diplomas.
235	(2)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
236	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
237	high school between 1946 and 1950 and were scheduled to graduate
238	between 1949 and 1955 but were inducted into the United States
239	Armed Forces between June 1949 and January 1955 and served
240	during the Korean War prior to completing the necessary high
241	school graduation requirements. Upon the recommendation of the
242	commissioner, the State Board of Education may develop criteria
243	and guidelines for awarding such diplomas.
244	(3)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
245	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who were
246	inducted into the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam
247	Era, as defined in s. 1.01(14), before completing the necessary
248	high school graduation requirements. Upon the recommendation of
249	the commissioner, the State Board of Education may develop
250	criteria and guidelines for awarding such diplomas.
251	Section 4.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
252	1003.429, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
253	1003.429  Accelerated high school graduation options.--
254	(1)  Students who enter grade 9 in the 2006-2007 school
255	year and thereafter may select, upon receipt of each consent
256	required by this section, one of the following three high school
257	graduation options:
258	(b)  Completion of a 3-year standard college preparatory
259	program requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18
260	academic credits in grades 9 through 12. At least 6 of the 18
261	credits required for completion of this program must be received
262	in classes that are offered pursuant to the International
263	Baccalaureate Program, the Advanced Placement Program, dual
264	enrollment, or the Advanced International Certificate of
265	Education Program, or specifically listed or identified by the
266	Department of Education as rigorous pursuant to s. 1009.531(3).
267	Students must be advised of the Advanced Placement,
268	International Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate
269	of Education, career academy coursework that leads to national
270	industry certification, and dual enrollment courses available,
271	as well as the availability of course offerings through the
272	Florida Virtual School. The 18 credits required for completion
273	of this program shall be primary requirements and shall be
274	distributed as follows:
275	1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
276	composition and literature;
277	2.  Three credits in mathematics at the Algebra I level or
278	higher from the list of courses that qualify for state
279	university admission;
280	3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must
281	have a laboratory component;
282	4.  Three credits in social sciences, which must include
283	one credit in American history, one credit in world history,
284	one-half credit in American government, and one-half credit in
285	economics;
286	5.  Two credits in the same second language unless the
287	student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate
288	competency in a language other than English. If the student
289	demonstrates competency in another language, the student may
290	replace the language requirement with two credits in other
291	academic courses; and
292	6.  Three credits in electives; or
293
294	Any student who selected an accelerated graduation program
295	before July 1, 2004, may continue that program, and all
296	statutory program requirements that were applicable when the
297	student made the program choice shall remain applicable to the
298	student as long as the student continues that program.
299	Section 5.  Subsections (8) through (14) of section
300	1003.43, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
301	1003.43  General requirements for high school graduation.--
302	(8)  The State Board of Education, after a public hearing
303	and consideration, shall adopt rules based upon the
304	recommendations of the commissioner for the provision of test
305	accommodations and modifications of procedures as necessary for
306	students with disabilities which will demonstrate the student's
307	abilities rather than reflect the student's impaired sensory,
308	manual, speaking, or psychological process skills.
309	(9)  The public hearing and consideration required in
310	subsection (8) shall not be construed to amend or nullify the
311	requirements of security relating to the contents of
312	examinations or assessment instruments and related materials or
313	data as prescribed in s. 1008.23.
314	(8)(10)(a)  A student who meets all requirements prescribed
315	in subsections (1), (4), and (5) shall be awarded a standard
316	diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education. A
317	district school board may attach the Florida gold seal career
318	endorsement to a standard diploma or, instead of the standard
319	diploma, award differentiated diplomas to those exceeding the
320	prescribed minimums.
321	(b)  A student who completes the minimum number of credits
322	and other requirements prescribed by subsections (1) and (4),
323	but who is unable to meet the standards of paragraph (5)(a),
324	paragraph (5)(b), or paragraph (5)(c), shall be awarded a
325	certificate of completion in a form prescribed by the State
326	Board of Education. However, any student who is otherwise
327	entitled to a certificate of completion may elect to remain in
328	the secondary school either as a full-time student or a part-
329	time student for up to 1 additional year and receive special
330	instruction designed to remedy his or her identified
331	deficiencies.
332	(11)(a)  Each district school board must provide
333	instruction to prepare students with disabilities to demonstrate
334	proficiency in the core content knowledge and skills necessary
335	for successful grade-to-grade progression and high school
336	graduation.
337	(b)  A student with a disability, as defined in s.
338	1007.02(2), for whom the individual educational plan (IEP)
339	committee determines that the FCAT cannot accurately measure the
340	student's abilities taking into consideration all allowable
341	accommodations, shall have the FCAT requirement of paragraph
342	(5)(a) waived for the purpose of receiving a standard high
343	school diploma, if the student:
344	1.  Completes the minimum number of credits and other
345	requirements prescribed by subsections (1) and (4).
346	2.  Does not meet the requirements of paragraph (5)(a)
347	after one opportunity in 10th grade and one opportunity in 11th
348	grade.
349	(12)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
350	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
351	high school between 1937 and 1946 and were scheduled to graduate
352	between 1941 and 1950 but were inducted into the United States
353	Armed Forces between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946,
354	prior to completing the necessary high school graduation
355	requirements. Upon the recommendation of the commissioner, the
356	State Board of Education may develop criteria and guidelines for
357	awarding such diplomas.
358	(13)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
359	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
360	high school between 1946 and 1950 and were scheduled to graduate
361	between 1949 and 1955, but were inducted into the United States
362	Armed Forces between June 1949 and January 1955, and served
363	during the Korean War prior to completing the necessary high
364	school graduation requirements. Upon the recommendation of the
365	commissioner, the State Board of Education may develop criteria
366	and guidelines for awarding such diplomas.
367	(14)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
368	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who were
369	inducted into the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam
370	Era, as defined in s. 1.01(14), before completing the necessary
371	high school graduation requirements. Upon the recommendation of
372	the commissioner, the State Board of Education may develop
373	criteria and guidelines for awarding such diplomas.
374	Section 6.  Subsection (4) of section 1007.263, Florida
375	Statutes, is amended to read:
376	1007.263  Community colleges; admissions of students.--Each
377	community college board of trustees is authorized to adopt rules
378	governing admissions of students subject to this section and
379	rules of the State Board of Education. These rules shall include
380	the following:
381	(4)  A student who has been awarded a special diploma as
382	defined in s. 1003.438 or a certificate of completion as defined
383	in s. 1003.43(8)(10) is eligible to enroll in certificate career
384	education programs.
385
386	Each board of trustees shall establish policies that notify
387	students about, and place students into, adult basic education,
388	adult secondary education, or other instructional programs that
389	provide students with alternatives to traditional college-
390	preparatory instruction, including private provider instruction.
391	A student is prohibited from enrolling in additional college-
392	level courses until the student scores above the cut-score on
393	all sections of the common placement test.
394	Section 7.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
395	1008.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
396	1008.22  Student assessment program for public schools.--
397	(3)  STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner shall
398	design and implement a statewide program of educational
399	assessment that provides information for the improvement of the
400	operation and management of the public schools, including
401	schools operating for the purpose of providing educational
402	services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.
403	The commissioner may enter into contracts for the continued
404	administration of the assessment, testing, and evaluation
405	programs authorized and funded by the Legislature. Contracts may
406	be initiated in 1 fiscal year and continue into the next and may
407	be paid from the appropriations of either or both fiscal years.
408	The commissioner is authorized to negotiate for the sale or
409	lease of tests, scoring protocols, test scoring services, and
410	related materials developed pursuant to law. Pursuant to the
411	statewide assessment program, the commissioner shall:
412	(c)  Develop and implement a student achievement testing
413	program known as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
414	(FCAT) as part of the statewide assessment program to measure a
415	student's content knowledge and skills in reading, writing,
416	science, and mathematics. Other content areas may be included as
417	directed by the commissioner. Comprehensive assessments of
418	reading and mathematics shall be administered annually in grades
419	3 through 10. Comprehensive assessments of writing and science
420	shall be administered at least once at the elementary, middle,
421	and high school levels. End-of-course assessments for a subject
422	may be administered in addition to the comprehensive assessments
423	required for that subject under this paragraph. An end-of-course
424	assessment must be rigorous, statewide, standardized, and
425	developed or approved by the department. The content knowledge
426	and skills assessed by comprehensive and end-of-course
427	assessments must be aligned to the core curricular content
428	established in the Sunshine State Standards. The commissioner
429	may select one or more nationally developed comprehensive
430	examinations, which may include, but need not be limited to,
431	examinations for a College Board Advanced Placement course,
432	International Baccalaureate course, or Advanced International
433	Certificate of Education course or industry-approved
434	examinations to earn national industry certifications as defined
435	in s. 1003.492, for use as end-of-course assessments under this
436	paragraph, if the commissioner determines that the content
437	knowledge and skills assessed by the examinations meet or exceed
438	the grade level expectations for the core curricular content
439	established for the course in the Next Generation Sunshine State
440	Standards. The commissioner may collaborate with the American
441	Diploma Project in the adoption or development of rigorous end-
442	of-course assessments that are aligned to the Next Generation
443	Sunshine State Standards. The testing program must be designed
444	as follows:
445	1.  The tests shall measure student skills and competencies
446	adopted by the State Board of Education as specified in
447	paragraph (a). The tests must measure and report student
448	proficiency levels of all students assessed in reading, writing,
449	mathematics, and science. The commissioner shall provide for the
450	tests to be developed or obtained, as appropriate, through
451	contracts and project agreements with private vendors, public
452	vendors, public agencies, postsecondary educational
453	institutions, or school districts. The commissioner shall obtain
454	input with respect to the design and implementation of the
455	testing program from state educators, assistive technology
456	experts, and the public.
457	2.  The testing program shall be composed of criterion-
458	referenced tests that shall, to the extent determined by the
459	commissioner, include test items that require the student to
460	produce information or perform tasks in such a way that the core
461	content knowledge and skills he or she uses can be measured.
462	3.  Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the
463	commissioner shall discontinue administration of the selected-
464	response test items on the comprehensive assessments of writing.
465	Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, the comprehensive
466	assessments of writing shall be composed of a combination of
467	selected-response test items, short-response performance tasks,
468	and extended-response performance tasks, which shall measure a
469	student's content knowledge of writing, including, but not
470	limited to, paragraph and sentence structure, sentence
471	construction, grammar and usage, punctuation, capitalization,
472	spelling, parts of speech, verb tense, irregular verbs, subject-
473	verb agreement, and noun-pronoun agreement.
474	4.  A score shall be designated for each subject area
475	tested, below which score a student's performance is deemed
476	inadequate. The school districts shall provide appropriate
477	remedial instruction to students who score below these levels.
478	5.  Except as provided in s. 1003.4282 1003.428(8)(b) or s.
479	1003.43(11)(b), students must earn a passing score on the grade
480	10 assessment test described in this paragraph or attain
481	concordant scores as described in subsection (10) in reading,
482	writing, and mathematics to qualify for a standard high school
483	diploma. The State Board of Education shall designate a passing
484	score for each part of the grade 10 assessment test. In
485	establishing passing scores, the state board shall consider any
486	possible negative impact of the test on minority students. The
487	State Board of Education shall adopt rules which specify the
488	passing scores for the grade 10 FCAT. Beginning in the 2012-2013
489	school year, such passing scores must at a minimum meet grade-
490	level proficiency. Any such rules, which have the effect of
491	raising the required passing scores, shall apply only to
492	students taking the grade 10 FCAT for the first time after such
493	rules are adopted by the State Board of Education.
494	6.  Participation in the testing program is mandatory for
495	all students attending public school, including students served
496	in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, except as otherwise
497	prescribed by the commissioner. If a student does not
498	participate in the statewide assessment, the district must
499	notify the student's parent and provide the parent with
500	information regarding the implications of such nonparticipation.
501	A parent must provide signed consent for a student to receive
502	classroom instructional accommodations that would not be
503	available or permitted on the statewide assessments and must
504	acknowledge in writing that he or she understands the
505	implications of such instructional accommodations. The State
506	Board of Education shall adopt rules, based upon recommendations
507	of the commissioner, for the provision of test accommodations
508	for students in exceptional education programs and for students
509	who have limited English proficiency. Accommodations that negate
510	the validity of a statewide assessment are not allowable in the
511	administration of the FCAT. However, instructional
512	accommodations are allowable in the classroom if included in a
513	student's individual education plan. Students using
514	instructional accommodations in the classroom that are not
515	allowable as accommodations on the FCAT may have the FCAT
516	requirement waived pursuant to the requirements of s. 1003.4282
517	1003.428(8)(b) or s. 1003.43(11)(b).
518	7.  A student seeking an adult high school diploma must
519	meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school
520	student must meet.
521	8.  District school boards must provide instruction to
522	prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the core
523	curricular content established in the Next Generation Sunshine
524	State Standards adopted under s. 1003.41, including the core
525	content knowledge and skills necessary for successful grade-to-
526	grade progression and high school graduation. If a student is
527	provided with instructional accommodations in the classroom that
528	are not allowable as accommodations in the statewide assessment
529	program, as described in the test manuals, the district must
530	inform the parent in writing and must provide the parent with
531	information regarding the impact on the student's ability to
532	meet expected proficiency levels in reading, writing, and
533	mathematics. The commissioner shall conduct studies as necessary
534	to verify that the required core curricular content is part of
535	the district instructional programs.
536	9.  District school boards must provide opportunities for
537	students to demonstrate an acceptable level of performance on an
538	alternative standardized assessment approved by the State Board
539	of Education following enrollment in summer academies.
540	10.  The Department of Education must develop, or select,
541	and implement a common battery of assessment tools that will be
542	used in all juvenile justice programs in the state. These tools
543	must accurately measure the core curricular content established
544	in the Sunshine State Standards.
545	11.  For students seeking a special diploma pursuant to s.
546	1003.438, the Department of Education must develop or select and
547	implement an alternate assessment tool that accurately measures
548	the core curricular content established in the Sunshine State
549	Standards for students with disabilities under s. 1003.438.
550	12.  The Commissioner of Education shall establish
551	schedules for the administration of statewide assessments and
552	the reporting of student test results. The commissioner shall,
553	by August 1 of each year, notify each school district in writing
554	and publish on the department's Internet website the testing and
555	reporting schedules for, at a minimum, the school year following
556	the upcoming school year. The testing and reporting schedules
557	shall require that:
558	a.  There is the latest possible administration of
559	statewide assessments and the earliest possible reporting to the
560	school districts of student test results which is feasible
561	within available technology and specific appropriations;
562	however, test results must be made available no later than the
563	final day of the regular school year for students.
564	b.  Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a
565	comprehensive statewide assessment of writing is not
566	administered earlier than the week of March 1 and a
567	comprehensive statewide assessment of any other subject is not
568	administered earlier than the week of April 15.
569	c.  A statewide standardized end-of-course assessment is
570	administered within the last 2 weeks of the course.
571
572	The commissioner may, based on collaboration and input from
573	school districts, design and implement student testing programs,
574	for any grade level and subject area, necessary to effectively
575	monitor educational achievement in the state, including the
576	measurement of educational achievement of the Sunshine State
577	Standards for students with disabilities. Development and
578	refinement of assessments shall include universal design
579	principles and accessibility standards that will prevent any
580	unintended obstacles for students with disabilities while
581	ensuring the validity and reliability of the test. These
582	principles should be applicable to all technology platforms and
583	assistive devices available for the assessments. The field
584	testing process and psychometric analyses for the statewide
585	assessment program must include an appropriate percentage of
586	students with disabilities and an evaluation or determination of
587	the effect of test items on such students.
588	Section 8.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
589	1009.531, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
590	1009.531  Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
591	student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
592	(1)  Effective January 1, 2008, in order to be eligible for
593	an initial award from any of the three types of scholarships
594	under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, a student
595	must:
596	(b)  Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
597	equivalent as described in s. 1003.428, s. 1003.429, s. 1003.43,
598	or s. 1003.435 unless:
599	1.  The student completes a home education program
600	according to s. 1002.41; or
601	2.  The student earns a high school diploma from a non-
602	Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on
603	military or public service assignment away from Florida.
604	Section 9.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.